Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 21 March 2016 23 March 2011

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Children are happy, settled and secure. They have close bonds and attachments with the childminder. She provides a flexible service for families. There is a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and children are treated as part of the family.  The quality of teaching is good. The experienced childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn through play. She gets down to children's level and provides them with suitable challenges to match their interests. This helps to ensure that children are keen to learn more.  The childminder provides a supportive learning environment. Her wide range of stimulating resources is easily available so that children can easily choose what to play with. This builds on children's confidence and their developing skills.  The childminder establishes strong channels of communication with other settings that children attend or are moving on to. This helps to promote a shared and consistent

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This provision is good

approach to children's care and learning and promotes their continued sense of security.  The childminder regularly reflects on the quality of her practice. She implements children's ideas and obtains the views of parents. This helps to continually improve the provision that she provides.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 The childminder does not always focus sharply enough on using information gained from parents when children first start as a way of raising the quality of teaching and learning to a higher level.  Opportunities to promote babies' sensory play to extend their curiosity for learning are not consistently offered.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 increase the information gathered from parents about their child when they first start, in order to strengthen initial planning and to build on the potential for children to achieve at an outstanding level  extend the opportunities for younger children to explore sensory and natural resources to promote their curiosity and emerging language development further.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed activities and care routines in the playroom and the kitchen.  The inspector observed a planned activity and jointly evaluated this with the childminder.  The inspector spoke with the childminder and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector looked at a selection of policies, including the safeguarding policy, children's records and verification of suitability checks.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from references, thank you cards and questionnaires containing their comments on the provision.  The inspector discussed self-evaluation with the childminder and how she involves parents and children in this process.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The childminder regularly attends child protection training and reads relevant information related to new legislation. This helps to keep her knowledge up to date and she is aware of procedures to follow if she has any concerns about children in her care. The childminder offers a flexible service. She works closely with parents to ensure that children's care needs are well known and babies' routines are followed. This helps her to provide consistency in children's lives. However, she does not always use the information about what children can do to extend her teaching and their learning even further. The childminder makes regular checks of children's learning and development. This includes the progress check for children between the ages of two and three years. The childminder ensures that her policies and procedures are regularly reviewed so that they contain new information, which has a

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

positive impact on children's care and learning.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

The childminder supports children's language and communication development well. She extends their vocabulary and introduces new words. For example, discussions about the different shapes of the moon take place during imaginative play. The childminder follows children's interests and looks for opportunities to gently challenge them. She introduces numbers and letters in a fun manner and helps children discover how to create simple words. This helps to support their early interest in reading. Older children enjoy many art and craft activities. They make cards for special occasions and confidently use scissors and paints. This helps them to develop their hand muscles and the coordination needed for writing. Younger children's sensory play and exploration is not yet embedded to help their emerging skills. Children's understanding of the natural world is promoted during regular outings. During these times, children enjoy collecting interesting items to make a collage

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The childminder helps children to make independent decisions during their play and routines. This helps to support their emotional well-being. The childminder supports children to develop a good awareness about their own personal care needs. Children are helped to lead a healthy lifestyle and their dietary needs are well known. They have opportunities to take acceptable risks and experience physical challenge when they visit soft play centres and use wheeled toys in nearby parks. The childminder takes every opportunity to teach children about safety. For example, discussions take place about ensuring small pieces of toys are kept safely away from babies.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children make good progress. Good teaching helps children to enjoy their play and ensures that any identified gaps in children's learning are closing. They are motivated to learn. Children confidently name shapes, count and recognise numbers. Older children show a keen interest in naming and blending sounds of letters. They are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, such as starting school.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 130101 Local authority Hertfordshire Inspection number 863975 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 3 - 4 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 3

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 23 March 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 1995 and lives in Bushey. She operates all year round from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays.

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Telephone number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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